Tributes to Jim Dobbin MP

Jim Dobbin MP

Tributes have been pouring to Jim Dobbin, Labour MP for Heywood and Middleton, who died suddenly on Sunday while on a visit to Poland.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols
President, Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales

"On behalf of the Catholic community, I express profound sorrow at the unexpected death of Jim Dobbin MP on his recent trip to Poland. I share with many a deep sense of loss at his death.

"First thoughts are with his widow and family. I assure Mrs Pat Dobbin of my prayers for her beloved husband and, of course, for her and her family at this time of loss. I pray that the precious gift of faith in the promises of Jesus will strengthen and sustain her in the sure hope of God's merciful welcome for Jim and his eternal rest in the presence of his living Lord.

"Jim Dobbin has been a stalwart servant of this country throughout his long life, especially in his Parliamentary career. His service was particularly robust and persevering in matters concerning the fundamental dignity of every human life, from the moment of conception to its natural end. This is the most radical service than can be given, for once that fundamental respect for human life is lost, then society is dramatically weakened and the vulnerable put into real danger.

"We salute Jim's sterling work and thank God for the consistent witness he gave. In the phrase of Pope Francis, Jim was truly a missionary disciple in this land. May he rest in peace as he awaits the final resurrection of all things in the Lord."

Archbishop Peter Smith
Chairman, Department for Christian Responsibility & Citizenship Catholic Bishops Conference of England & Wales

I was deeply saddened to hear the news of the sudden death of Jim Dobbin MP. My prayers, along with those of so many others, are with his wife Pat and his family. Jim was a man of deep faith and great courage. He was totally committed to his family, to his Catholic faith, and to his vocation in politics and public life.

Jim was a prominent Catholic MP, and I had the privilege of knowing him well in recent years. At a time when taking a public stand on life issues, especially abortion, was particularly hard, he was always courageous and steadfast in standing up for what he believed to be right, and he did this for very many years against an often harsh and wintry prevailing climate of opinion. Because of his manifest integrity and the respect and courtesy he always showed others, I know he came to be highly respected on all sides of the House of Commons. He was an exemplary servant of both his faith and his country. He is a great loss to Parliament, constituency, party and, of course, the Church. May he rest in peace.

Canon Pat Browne
Catholic Chaplain to Parliament

Jim Dobbin stood out in Parliament and elsewhere, as a principled man. His thinking was clear. No wooliness. everyone knew where he stood on the issues surrounding the dignity of the himan person from conception to the grave. He was unshakeable in the Christian values by which he lived his life.

It was Jim who accompanied me to my first interview with Mr Speaker when I took up office as Catholic Chaplain to Parliament and he was one of those Catholic MP's who have it in their diary to come to Mass every Wednesday at 6pm in the St Mary Undercroft Chapel in Parliament whenever work commitments permitted.

His witness to the faith was gentle yet steady; Inviting and patient rather than condemnatory of others who did not see things his way.

His loss, with that of the late Paul Goggins MP who died earlier this year leaves Parliament a poorer place.

Lord Alton

It was with great sadness that many heard the news that Jim Dobbin MP had died during a visit to Poland, while on parliamentary business. He served as a member of the Council of Europe. A tireless fighter for the vulnerable and the disadvantaged Jim Dobbin served as the Labour Member of Parliament for Heywood and Middleton. Among the parliamentary causes which he supported were the pro life cause, serving with distinction as Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Pro Life Group.

He put to good use his experience as a micro biologist in fighting against genetic manipulation, the destruction of human embryos, the cloning of animal-human hybrids and in defending the sanctity of the life of the unborn child. His personal family experience of disability issues made him an avowed opponent of eugenics and of euthanasia. His belief in the inalienable right to life made him a staunch defender of the vulnerable and a fierce opponent of anyone who trampled on the weak.

His life long commitment to defending the voiceless, the poor and the marginalised led him to champion unpopular causes at home and overseas. In recent years he had served as Vice Chairman of the All Party Group on North Korea and to participate in the work of other all-party groups. In the House of Commons he was respected on all sides as a principled man who stood up for his deeply held beliefs rather than blindly following the dog whistle of party politics. Throughout his political life he was given unswerving support by his redoubtable wife, Pat, who shared his causes and convictions with equal passion. Their love and commitment to one another gave Jim great strength. Pat and their family will be devastated by Jim's sudden death and his friends will be holding them all in their thoughts and prayers. May he rest in peace.

Anthony Bailey OBE
Constantinian Order

The Chancery regrets to announce the death on 7 September 2014 of Mr James Dobbin, MP, a Knight of Merit with Star of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George within the Delegation of Great Britain and Ireland. He was invested into the Order on 16 November 2006 and was an active member of the Delegation.

Mr Dobbin believed in helping others, proven by his work in the NHS for more than 30 years. He was elected to the House of Commons at the 1997 General Election as the Labour MP for Heywood and Middleton. Mr Dobbin chaired the All-party Pro Life Group and served and supported many other Catholic charities and causes.

Mr Dobbin was decreed by Pope Benedict XVI as a Knight of the Pontifical Order of St Gregory the Great in 2008, in recognition of his service to the Catholic Church in the public witness of faith as a parliamentarian and as a staunch advocate of the dignity of all human life.

He will be greatly missed. Requiescat in pace.